Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

Two Sets of Threes

My father had what he called his “two sets of threes.” They were direct and simple rules aimed at how he felt we should conduct ourselves in life. The first set was about honesty:

Never lie.

Never cheat.

Never steal.

It required no explanation. My brothers and I knew what it meant and that he expected us to abide by it.

The second set of threes was about dealing with adversity:

Don’t whine.

Don’t complain.

Don’t make excuses.

Some people today may think these are naive or kind of corny. But think a moment about what they mean and who you become if you abide by them. That isn’t naive. You don’t become corny.

Dad’s two sets of threes were a compass for me in trying to do the right thing and behaving in a proper manner.